2018 Chevrolet Traverse: Refreshing or Revolting?

The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse underwent a complete redesign for this year. It grew considerably and is now nearly as big as a Tahoe. Did Chevy do a good job or did they go too far?

According to a report by Motor Trend, the new Chevy Traverse grew a lot bigger this year to better accommodate its third row. It also received a bigger grille and thinner headlights for this year. Its hood is also more squared off than before.

In addition, Chrome accents were also added to adorn the striking integrated grille. The High Country model is now filled with a lot of bling. Meanwhile, the sporty Redline trim received a blacked-out bow tie emblem as well as black wheels and other cool updates.

From the side, it is evident that the new Traverse looks much more like a truck this year. The lines of the windows and the rear lift gate look very similar to the Tahoe. All of the once rounded edges from the previous model have been replaced with square shapes. Similar to the headlights, the taillights have also been narrowed for this year.

Inside, the all-new Chevy SUV gets a larger 7 or 8-inch touchscreen. Buttons and knobs are now simplified and a lot of free space is now available right under the central display. It now has a more open cabin look.

In addition, a split folding second-row seat was added instead of the old Smart Slide setup, which a lot of people thought to tedious. The new curbside seat can now tip up and slide forward even when a child's car seat is installed. This provides easier access to the third row.

Auto Blog also reported that the finally revamped Traverse will be available in seven different trims. All trims except for the RS will receive the General Motors 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission. The GM engine is capable of 305 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

While the name and the sporty blacked-out appearance would have had many other people believing otherwise, the Traverse RS only comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. It has 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This is somewhat of a disappointment since most people were hoping for something to compete against the Ford Explorer Sport's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.

The rest of the trim levels carry over from the previous Traverse including the LS, LT, and Premier. The new High Country trim now adds a lot of chrome, LED headlights, leather and suede seats, and a power folding third row.

While the old Traverse was already one of the roomiest crossovers available, Chevy went all out this year. They decided to pack even more space in the second and third rows. The wheelbase is massive so the third row doesn't even have to sit right on top of the wheels. The cargo space is also much bigger this year.

The all-new 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is now bigger than ever. It has crossed over to the mid-size SUV threshold. Did Chevy do a good job with this year's model? Share your thoughts and comments below!